Richard Dunne's Villa departure becomes official

Richard Dunne enjoyed a 25-minute cameo against Georgia at Aviva Stadium on Friday

Aston Villa have officially confirmed that Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunne has been released by the club.

Eric Lichaj, Andy Marshall, Jean Makoun and Simon Dawkins have also made their exits from the club.

Dunne, United States defender Lichaj and goalkeeper Marshall are all at the end of their contracts.

Makoun, who spent last season on loan at Ligue 1 side Rennes, will join the French club after they took up the option to buy him.

Dawkins, who has been on loan at Villa Park since January from Tottenham, will return to his parent club.

Meanwhile, the contracts of Graham Burke, Derrick Williams, Michael Drennan, Samir Carruthers and Daniel Johnson are set to expire but all five have been offered extensions.

Dunne, 33, did not play for Villa boss Paul Lambert last season due to injury and ended a year of misery by coming on for the final 25 minutes of Sunday's 4-0 international friendly victory over Georgia - his first action since June last year.

The defender, who signed for Villa in 2009 from Manchester City, was hoping to use the end-of-season games with the Republic as a shop window in an attempt to find a new club, but he now appears to have lost his bid to start Friday's World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands.